TORONTO — Ever been to a trucking event with 90 percent women and 10 percent men?

That was the case at the Toronto Transportation Club’s (TTC) inaugural Women in Transportation luncheon on June 11 at the Glenerin Inn in Mississauga, ON.

A quick glance at the room and it was clear there’s a place for your daughters, even granddaughters, in trucking. The face of transportation is changing and more and more women are leading the way.

The luncheon featured three successful female panellists, each discussing issues facing women in transportation and the value of having a diversified team.

Jacquie Meyers, who became president of Meyers Transportation at 28 years of age, said she’s “confident that there are huge opportunities for women in leadership roles in this industry.”

She added that a diversified team of men and women would outperform other homogeneous teams, so it makes business sense to have women at the top.

Kelli Saunders, agency president at Morai Logistics/Mode Transportation, agrees. “Diversity is highly regarded in the U.S. and becoming more so in Canada.” Being a female face in today’s transportation job market can work in your favor, she added.

Fiona Murray started in what she calls the ‘female ghetto’, the corporate library at CN Rail 20 years ago and today holds the position of vice-president corporate marketing. She maintains that it’s still a struggle and women’s hard work still goes unnoticed in this male dominated industry. However, over the years she says more and more women are coming to the boardroom table.

Plans are already in the making to move the 2014 luncheon to a bigger venue.

Denise Cardy, secretary treasurer at TTC confirms it will now be an annual event.